Artificial limb.



-PATENTED 0011-18, 1904.

S. E. STAGGS. ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. a, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

no MODEL.-

Patented October 18, 190a.

PAT ENT OFFICE.

-ISYLVESTER' E. s'rAGes. OF NEW YORK, n-r jAssieiron or ONE-HALF TO EMMYsrAeos, or NEW YGRK, N. r.

' ARTIFICIAL LiMB.

' -SPECIIICATIONforming part of Letters Patent no. 772,753, datedOctober 18, 1904.

Application filed Decemb 8, 1903. derial No. 184,281. (No model.)

To (tZZ-wiwm it. may concern:

- Be it known that 1', SYLv s'rER E.'STAGGS,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York,borough of Manhat: tan, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Ar tificial Limbs, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exactdescription, This invention relatesto certain'novel and useful improvements in artificial limbs.

In the present instance I have in contem plation as the main object ofthe invention the provision of animproved artificial upper leg.

member, aknee-joint, a lower leg member, an ankle-joint, and a'footmember, these parts all being designed to be correlated and arranged asis hereinafter specifically recited.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for adjustingand controlling the tension-of the kneeoint in such manner that thelatter may be suited tovarious conditions. Y r Y Still a further objectis to so construct the ankle connectionof the limb that freedom ofmovement will be at all times secured, while a safe and comfortablejoint will be attained.

Finally, I have in view the provision of an artificial limb-which willembody the essential and desirable features of simplicity, durability,economy,.s'afety, and convenience.

With the above-recited objects and others of a similarnature in view myinvention consists in the construction, combination, and arrange'ment ofparts as is described in this specification, delineatedin theaccompanying.

drawings, and set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding. parts in all the figures.

- yFigure 1 is aview in side elevation of a limbembodyingmyimprovements. Fig.2isa rear ..t1onal view taken on the line44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 similar view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is atransverse sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. l and lookin thedirection of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view ofjaslightly-modified form of'upper leg portion, and Fig. 8 shows an upperleg portion having'an air-valve.-

' For the purpose of convenience in description my Improved limb maybeconsidered as comprising-a foot member A, an ankle connection B, securedto the foot, a lower leg portion 0, jointed tothe ankle, and an upperleg member D, connected to the lower leg by an improved kneeconstruction.

' The foot member of the device (see Fig.3)

incased. in calfskin or the like 10, such calfskin forming'the outersurfaceof the foot, While for the. purpose of giving resiliency andspring to the toe Iinsert a spring 11, ofwhalebone or other suitablematerial,' between the fabric and the outer calfsk'in covering.

Inthe wooden-block portion of the foot member I form a horizontal groove"or chan nel 12, designed for thei purpose hereinafter described, andfrom such grooved portion down through the wooden blo'ck extends avertical bore 13, terminating in a relatively widened portion 14. Thewooden-block member is also provided with a cavity 15, formedv in theheel portion thereof, and a similar cavity 16 is formed at the *frontthereof, such cavity being designed to form av seat or bed for thecushion of the ankle portion.

The upper surface of the foot portion'is cut away, so as to formashoulder 1'7, such cutaway portion of the shoeacting as, a bed for theankle member B. This ankle member is of a peculiar constructioncomprising, as it does, a body portionformed of. any suitable nprises,essentially, an upper portion and a lower relatively widened instepportion 19. The undersurface of the aluminium l6 portion is preferablyconvex and is 2 mod. with a transversely-extending bear- (see Fig. 6,)said bearing being formed 1 a brass tubular portion 21, cast integralwith the aluminium of the ankle portion, this .rnal havinglugs or ribs92 formed thereon. The central portion of the journal is cutaway, sothat such journal is really formed of two transverse tubular sections,and through the journal extends a shaft 23, formed of asuitable netal,this:shaft or bolt 23 being demust necessarily be placed upon the samein lking.

Secured to the shaft 23, at the central portion thereof, and extendingdown-through the space between the two sections of the journal isa'metal bolt 2%., said bolt being connected with the shaft through themedium of an eye portion 25, the shank of such bolt passing through theertic'al bore 13 of the foot portion and being secured in the widenedportion M of the bore through they medium of any suit-able nut 26, awasher 2-7 being also provided. From this construction it will be notedthat the single integral ankle member will be firmly and safely securedto the foot member, and in order to cushion the rocking motion of theankle upon the foot and render the limb comfortable I have provided arear or heei cushion 28, formed of some suitable resilient materialsuchas rubber, a steel spring covered with leather, or other materialfthelower end of said cushion fitting in the cavity 15 of the foot portion,while the upper end thereof is designed to seat in a brass socket 29,cast in the rear of the ankle portion B. member is also seated a rubbercushion 30, which designed to relieve the pressure placed upon theforward part of the foot and to secure comfort to the wearer of thelimb.

The upper portion 18 of the ankle B is ofsliglitly--recluced diameter incross-section, a shoulder, as at 31, being formed circumferentially ofthe memberat the juncture of the portion 18 with the instep portion 19,and this construction will be found extremely useful, the reducedportion is designed to be inserted within the lower leg member (I. Thislower leg portion is formed mainly of rawhide, and at the point where itis connected with the ankle member the rawhide is designed to lit overthe reduced portion of the ankle and abut against the shoulder 31.

in order to connect the lower leg with the ankle portion, copper rivetsor other fastenmg means may be employed, these latter being arranged ina row circumferentially of and extending through the legmember G and theankle portion, the heads of such rivets arterial, such as aluminium orthe like,

ned to stand the tremendous strain which in the front cavity 16 of thefoot I being upset in the ordinary way. lilxtending longitudinally ofthe lower leg portion are strengthening strips or bars of metal, such assteel or the like, (shown at 32, see Figs. 2 and 5,) each of such barslying along the side portions of the lower leg and connected to theankle portion by certain of the rivets heretofore mentioned, the upperend of each of said metalstrips terminating in an eye portion 33,designed to permit the passage of n tubularknee-bolt 34:, said boltconnecting the upper leg member with the lower leg member at the kneeportion 35. The upper edge of the lower leg portion is strengthened by ametallic band of any suitable character, such as shown at 36, said bandbeing covered or trimmed with any suitable material, such assole-leather, while the strengtheningstrips of the bars 32 32 are alsocovered with a trimming of sole-leather, as shown at 37, the

said trimming being of any design or shape.

The knee portion, as will be seen by reference to the drawings, isformed at the lower extremity of the upper leg portion and is preferablysemicircular in contour. 'lThe bolt 34:, which connects the knee withthe lower leg, extends through a bearingsleeve 3h, formed of anysuitable material, such sleeve having its end portions supported inblocks 39 39, secured at opposite sides of the portion 35. This tubularshaft or bolt 3% is so cured through the medium of screw-nuts i0,threaded therein at each end thereof, and for the purpose of permittingthe bolt to act as a lubricating device I have formed a groove extendingcircumferentially of the bolt at ll. and a perforation or small hole a1is made through the grooved portion, such hole permitting any suitablelubricant to pass thcrethrough and to lubricate the bearing. Thisconstruction will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. a.

in the present construction of limb the ball portion 35 of the knee isalso formed of aluminium, and said knee portion is rigidly connectedwith the upper leg portion l) at the lower end of the latter through anysuitable means, such as a plurality of copper rivets or the like, thepoint of juncture of the knee with the leg portion being covered with aband of any suitable material, (shown at 1 2.) This knee portion isformed will a smnicirruhn' slot cut approximately centrally in the ball35 and having its end extending in a vertical direction, said slot beingindicated at -13 and being designed for the purpose hcroinal'tm' forth.

It is of course necessary in constructing a suitable limb that thereshould be some play or movement permitted at the knee portion. and toaccomplish this i have adopted the following means: Extendingtumsverscly through the lower leg portion is a bar it, (see Figs. 3 and5,) which bar is arlayded to be connected with a knee'eord to, the endsof the cord having loops formed thereon and through {which'the barpasses, such cord passupward and through a bracket or fastenlng-chp 47,secured to the back of the upper -leg'portion directly above thetermination of one end oithe slot, W hen the knee is turned so that theupper leg portion is at an angle to the lower leg portion, as is shownin Fig.

3, such cor.d will also bend, and its free in- 10.

. 1 'In order to tension and to assistinconnecting the upper ,portionof. .the limb movably with thelower portion, I secure an elastic bandward movement is permitted. by the slot.

near the point of juncture of the ankle-with the lower leg, assliown at49, said band extending longitudinally of the front or shin portion ofthe leg, and at its upper end is connected at with a flat metalliespring51, said spring passing through the slotted portion of the knee portionand passing out through an opening 51 ,arrangednear thepoint of junctureof the knee portion with the stump-socket or upperleg portion.

, It is often necessary or desirable to tension or regulate the movementof the'upper limbsection relative to the lower one and for this purpose1 have provided the spring 51 with a finger-loop 52 and' a catch 53,sec'ured ad- .jacent to thefinger loop, said catch being in the natureof a small pin' or stud adapted to be brought into alinementand insertedwithin any desired one of a plurality of openings or apertures.54r,vformed in avstrip 55, which strip is secured longitudinally jof thefrontof the upper leg portion. It will be evident that when it isdesired to tension the movement of' the sections of the limb it is onlynecessary-to V grasp the loop and pull it upward to release the strapsor the like.

catch from \one of. the apertures, and then through the elastic cord andspring the desired tension may be obtained, and the catch is thenslipped back again into one of the-apertures.

The upper leg section or member is in the. fol-m of a stump-socket andis constructed of an outer shell 56, formed of rawhide, and-an innershell 57, formed of sole-leather or similar material, the sole-leatheroverlapping the rawhide at the upper end thereof, so that a I hand ortrimming 58' is formed at the upper portion of the limb.- 1nmanyinstances it is necessary to adjust the limb to suit certainpatients, and for this purpose the upper legsection is formed with.avertical opening, the longitudinal edges of thematerial adjacent tosaidopening being provided with a plurality ot'eyelets, as at 59,designed to receive a lac ing-cord 60, the construction being such thatthe upper section may be tightened or loosened or adjusted slightly tosuit the party wearing the limb.

The limb as described may be secured to the stump 111 any desiredmanner, such as by In Fig. 7 of the drawings 1 have also shown aslightly-modified form of'lirnb. In this mod ification the upper legportion has inounted'ther'ein an inner stump-socket 61, which istensionedjn itsvertical movement bya spring 62, coiled about a rod 63,one end of which passes-through a transverse block 64, while the otherend is seated in a small chamber 65,

formed in the bottom of the inI socket.

. I In Fig. 8 the upper leg portion is provided with an air-valve 66,designed to permit the I escape of air when the limb is thrust or pushedthe air has been' expelled, and the limbwill down into the socket, suchvalve closing after adhere firmlyto the stump. It will be noted I Iscribed a full-sized artificial limb it will of course-be understoodthat the lower portion of such l-imb'that is to say, the part includingthe lower leg-section, the ankle-section,

and the foot membermay be formed or made "to suit parties who have had alimb severed at a point below the knee, in this case the upper omitted.

The use oi the rawhide and aluminium forms an extremely strong, light,and durable structure, while the integral ankle portion gives rigidityand strength and at the same time freedom of movement.

'Ehe parts of the limb, especially the upperv leg-section and the lowerleg-section, may be strengthened and formed in any suitable or preferredmanner, and it will be further evileg-section and the knee-joint beingdent that there may be variations and modi fications in regard tocertain details of construction without departing from the essentialfeatures of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination of an upper leg-section, a lowerleg-section, an ankle portion, and a foot member connected to the ankleportion,

' said foot member comprising a wooden portion, a rawhide covering forthe wooden portion, a body of felt secured to the rawhide covering andwooden portion, a coating of canvas fabric for the felt, and a coveringof rubber over the canvas, substantiallyas set forth.

2. 'The combination of aieg portion, afoot member, an ankle portionconnecting the leg portion with the foot member, said ankle portioncomprising an integral metallic body lfaving'a reduced upper portionconnected with the leg and a flared, enlarged lower portion II'Oconstituting a bearing, a tubular shell suring cast integral with thematerial of the'ankle portion and adapted to lie in the groove formedtransversely of the leg portion, a shaft and bolt carried by saidhard-metal bearing and designed to extend through the bore formed in thefoot member, and a nut designed to thread upon the shank of the bolt,for uniting the foot member with the ankle portion, substantially as setforth.

' a An article of manufacture, comprising a Wooden portion, a rawhidecovering therefor, a layer of felt over the rawhide, a layer of canvasfabric over the felt, and a covering of vulcanized rubber over thecanvas.

5. The combination of a lower leg portion formed of abody of rawhide,leather trimming for said rawhide, and a plurality of metal strips orbars extending longitudinally of the leg portion, certain of said barshaving eye portions formed thereon, an upper leg portion formed of abody of rawhide, knee portion, designed to be secured to the lower legportion, and a bolt passing through the aluminium knee portion of theupper limb and designed to be supported by the metallic strips.

6. The combination of an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion, a kneeportion carried by the aforesaid upper leg portion, means for pivotallyconnecting the two leg portions at the knee, a knee-cord connecting thetwo sections, and means for adjusting the tension 01' regulating themovement of the two sections relative to each other, said meansincluding a spring and a latching device carried by said spring on theoutside of one of the leg portions, designed to engage with the upperleg portion.

7. The combination of an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion, ametallic knee portion carried by the aforesaid upper leg portion, aplurality of metallic strips extending longitudinally of the lower legportion, a tubular bolt passing through said strips and through themetallic knee portion, for connecting the knee portion to the lower legportion, a

a cord looped at its central portion and connected to the upper legportion at the rear of the'knee, the free ends of said cord beingsocured within the lower leg portion, a lacingcord passing throughapertures or eyes formed in the upper leg portion, for adjusting thesize of said upper leg portion, means for tensioning the movement of thelimb at the knee, such means including a spring and a latching devicecarried by said spring and designed to .engage with notches formed inthe upper legportion, an ankle portion secured to the lower leg portion,and a foot member connected to the ankle portion.

8. An artificial limb comprising a foot por: tion, a leg portion,and-means secured in the leg portion, for permitting the escape of airtherefrom when the leg portion is filled, and for preventing theadmission of air thereto, the said means being so arranged as to closeafter the air has been expelled from the leg portion.

9. The combination of an upper leg portion, constructed of an outerrawhide covering and a lining of leather, an aluminium knee portionsecured to the upper leg portion, and a lower leg portion pivotallyconnected to the knee portion, said lower leg portion being formed ofrawhide and having strips of strengthening material secured to therawhide.

10. An artificial limb comprising an upper leg portion, a knee portionrigidly secured to said upper leg portion, a tubular bearingsleevcmounted transversely of the knee portion, a lower leg portion, and atubular bolt, provided with an oiling-aperture, an oil-carrying groovepassing through the sleeve with-

